Lift Review: Kevin Hart Steals the Show in Hilarious Heist Comedy

F. Gary Gray's film "Lift" features a strong cast led by Kevin Hart, but the action-heist formula struggles to stand out from the typical genre tropes, falling into the Netflix norm. Gray is no stranger to the heist genre, and while he paid homage to the original fanbase in his past work, "Lift" does not break free from familiar conventions.

After starting his directing career as a celebrated music video creator, Gray found success with the 2015 biographical NWA drama Straight Outta Compton. However, his most recent film, Men in Black: International, was a box office disappointment in 2019. The film failed to revive the franchise due to a lack of fun. Gray's new feature, Lift, seems promising with a strong cast led by Kevin Hart and high-stakes action, all supported by Netflix. However, while it has its moments, Lift ultimately offers a predictable and familiar ride.

Lift takes a mindless, formulaic approach

The Venice skyline is the backdrop as dramatic string music transitions seamlessly into a hip-hop beat. Just as we start to take in the intricate architecture and Venetian masks, text appears on screen to confirm our location. And if there was any doubt, a host greets our protagonist Cyrus Whitaker (Kevin Hart) with the words: "Welcome to Venice." It's clear - he's definitely in Venice.

This is a glimpse into the tone and writing style of Daniel Kunka's Lift: It's time to relax and enjoy. Inside a grand, bustling hall, Cyrus and his team stealthily communicate through earpieces, exchanging clever one-liners. "The champagne's chilling, let's wrap this up," says Camila (Ursula Corbero), the getaway driver. Mi-Sun (Yun Jee Kim), the savvy tech expert, confidently awaits in the auction hall, informing Cyrus and the crew that they are in for a big payday. As the auction commences, we discover the pièce de résistance and the reason for their presence: N8 (Jacob Batalon), a Banksy-like artist, is auctioning a high-value NFT, a very modern touch.

The auction is about to start, and a group of Interpol agents led by Abby Gladwell (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) are observing from the sidelines along with local police. Abby is prepared for Cyrus to try to steal something, but soon realizes that he's already one step ahead. She will soon have to team up with the thief to stop the real villain of Lift. This NFT caper is just the beginning of a much larger heist, with all the classic trademarks of the genre. Lars Jorgensen (Jean Reno) is a sinister threat in Lift, using fallen hackers to cause chaos and profit from his short positions, even if it means risking millions of lives.

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Abby, Cyrus, and their team of brilliant individuals, each with their own endearing yet ordinary quirks, are tasked with foiling the plan to steal Jorgensen’s payment – $500 million in gold – from a passenger plane. This leads to high-flying action sequences and some unexpected twists. However, for the most part, Lift offers a familiar action-heist story with a lack of standout comedic moments.

Despite its formulaic approach, this strategy has led to numerous successful Netflix Originals in the past. Like many recent films on the streaming platform, it appeals to a wide audience. It's not the complex, thought-provoking cinema of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, nor is it the lush, disturbing, darkly funny musings of Saltburn. Even compared to heist films like Ocean's Eleven and The Duke, Lift doesn't stand out much. However, its mindless, enjoyable entertainment will likely keep it in the Netflix top 10 for a few weeks.

A talented cast leads TV-dinner-movie fodder

Within the given genre and the 40,000-feet setting, one can anticipate mid-air brawls and action sequences. However, the frantic camerawork and heavy CGI fail to build much tension in these moments. The main selling point of Lift has to be the cast, with their charisma shining through even with such an on-the-nose script.

Though the chemistry between our leading duo isn’t quite there, the pair breathe life into their respective roles. Mbatha-Raw commands her scenes with presence and conviction, while Hart injects his trademark humor while demonstrating his ability to get serious. D’Onofrio also has fun as Cyrus’ master of disguise Denton, bringing wit and charisma in spite of the script. A personal highlight is Reno as the dastardly Jorgensen, who has proven since 1994’s Leon his ability to bring a character to life with his facial expressions alone. 

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Reno and Worthington are underutilized, with Worthington getting minimal screentime but excelling in his role as Abby's Interpol boss. Fortunately, the film maintains a tight 95-minute runtime, avoiding unnecessary meandering unlike other Netflix action sagas. The ending wraps up loose ends, but the lack of daring ambition leaves room for improvement. Nevertheless, the film has enough going for it to be considered good TV-dinner-movie fodder.

Lift review score: 3/5

Lacking in creativity and impact, Lift is yet another Netflix Original that will likely make its way into the top 10 list before being forgotten. However, its attractive features, such as its short runtime, position it as a convenient option for easy entertainment when you're unsure of what to watch and just want to relax for an hour or two.

Get ready for the release of Lift on Netflix on January 12, and check out our Netflix coverage on upcoming shows and seasons such as Firefly Lane Season 3, Monster Season 2, and more.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of heist movies, I was eagerly anticipating the release of "Lift," hoping it would bring a fresh and exciting take on the genre. While the film certainly has its entertaining moments, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment with its overall predictability and lack of originality. The story follows a familiar formula, with a group of skilled thieves planning and executing a daring heist, only to encounter unexpected obstacles along the way. While the cast, led by the always charismatic Kevin Hart, does their best to elevate the material, the script fails to provide them with truly memorable characters or laugh-out-loud moments.

Despite its shortcomings, "Lift" does offer some visually stunning action sequences and a few clever twists that manage to keep the viewer engaged. The chemistry between Hart and his co-stars is undeniable, and their banter provides some much-needed levity to the otherwise serious tone of the film. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had seen this all before, and that "Lift" ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression. While it may provide a few hours of mindless entertainment, it's unlikely to be remembered as one of the genre's standout entries.